Course Overview:
Immerse yourself in the scientific study of human behavior and cognition. Learn about notable figures and psychological studies. Investigate scientific methods and ethical considerations related to human and animal research. In this college-level course, you will learn about and apply important terms, concepts, and phenomena associated with each major area of psychology and enhance your critical thinking skills. Topics include the biological bases of psychology, sensation and perception, learning, cognition, development, motivation, emotion, personality, psychological disorders, and social psychology. This course provides elective credit only.
Required Materials:
You will need the following items to complete this course:
- Textbook (e-text): Myers, David G. and Nathan DeWall. Myers’ Psychology for AP Course. 3rd edition. 2018. New York: Worth.
- An e-text code is required to access the textbook and any of the supplementary materials on the e-text website. Contact your instructor for your e-text code.
- AP Central
Throughout the course you will be required to complete practice in the style of the AP Exam. Please reach out to your instructor regarding which resource(s) you should use. Free resources exist on the AP Central website.
Other Resources :
- Java
- Windows Media Real Player
- Apple iTunes
- Writing utensils
- Paper/printer
- The AP Psychology Course and Exam Description is a free material provided by College Board that outlines the skills and content taught within the AP Psychology course.
You may consider the following optional test prep materials:
- 5 Steps to a 5: AP Psychology, McGraw-Hill Education
- Cracking the AP Psychology Exam, The Princeton Review
- Barron's Test Prep AP Psychology, Barron’s Educational Series
The books will act as an extra resource. While recommended, they are not required in order to complete the course.
Syllabus:
Segment 1:
Module 01: Scientific Foundations of Psychology
- 00 Welcome to Scientific Foundations of Psychology
- 01 The History of Psychology
- 02 Research Methods in Psychology
- 03 The Experimental Method
- 04 Ethical Guidelines in Psychology
- 05 Statistical Analysis in Psychology
- 06 Scientific Foundations of Psychology Journal and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 07 Scientific Foundations of Psychology Module Exam
Module 02: Biological Bases of Psychology
- 00 Welcome to Biological Bases of Psychology
- 01 The Neuron
- 02 Neural Firing
- 03 The Nervous System
- 04 The Endocrine System
- 05 Tools for Examining the Brain
- 06 The Brain
- 07 Interaction of Heredity and Environment
- 08 Sleep, Dreams, and Psychoactive Drugs
- 09 Biological Bases of Psychology Review and Journal
- 10 Biological Bases of Psychology Module Exam
Module 03: Sensation and Perception
- 00 Welcome to Sensation and Perception
- 01 Principles of Sensation and Perception
- 02 Visual Sensation
- 03 Visual Perception
- 04 Auditory Anatomy and Perception
- 05 The Other Senses
- 06 Sensation and Perception Journal and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 07 Sensation and Perception Module Exam
Module 04: Cognitive Psychology
- 00 Welcome to Cognitive Psychology
- 01 Introduction to Memory
- 02 Encoding, Storing, and Retrieving
- 03 Forgetting and the Biological Bases of Memory
- 04 Introduction to Thinking and Problem Solving
- 05 Components of Language and Language Acquisition
- 06 Introduction to Intelligence
- 07 Psychometric Principles and Intelligence Testing
- 08 Cognitive Psychology Review and Journal
- 09 Cognitive Psychology Module Exam
Module 05: Learning
- 00 Welcome to Learning
- 01 Introduction to Learning and Classical Conditioning
- 02 Operant Conditioning
- 03 Social and Cognitive Factors in Learning
- 04 Learning Journal and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 05 Learning Module Exam
- 06 Segment One Exam
Segment 2:
Module 06: Developmental Psychology
- 00 Welcome to Developmental Psychology
- 01 Life Span and Physical Development in Childhood
- 02 Cognitive Development in Childhood
- 03 Social Development in Childhood
- 04 Gender and Sexual Orientation
- 05 Adolescent and Moral Development
- 06 Adulthood and Aging
- 07 Developmental Psychology Journal and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 08 Developmental Psychology Module Exam
Module 07: Motivation, Emotion, and Personality
- 00 Welcome to Motivation, Emotion, and Personality
- 01 Theories of Motivation
- 02 Specific Topics in Motivation
- 03 Theories of Emotion
- 04 Stress and Coping
- 05 Introduction to Personality and Psychoanalytic Theories
- 06 Humanistic Theories of Personality
- 07 Trait Theories and Measuring Personality
- 08 Behaviorism and Social Cognitive Theories of Personality
- 09 Motivation, Emotion, and Personality Review and Journal
- 10 Motivation, Emotion, and Personality Module Exam
Module 08: Clinical Psychology
- 00 Welcome to Clinical Psychology
- 01 Psychological Perspectives and Etiology of Disorders
- 02 Neurodevelopmental and Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorders
- 03 Bipolar, Depressive, Anxiety, and Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
- 04 Trauma- and Stressor-Related, Dissociative, and Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
- 05 Feeding and Eating and Personality Disorders
- 06 Psychological Perspectives and Treatment of Disorders
- 07 Behavioral, Cognitive, and Group Therapy and Evaluating Treatments
- 08 Treatment of Disorders from the Biological Perspective
- 09 Clinical Psychology Journal and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 10 Clinical Psychology Module Exam
Module 09: Social Psychology
- 00 Welcome to Social Psychology
- 01 Attribution Theory, Attitude Formation, and Attitude Change
- 02 Conformity, Compliance, and Obedience
- 03 Group Influences on Behavior and Mental Processes
- 04 Bias, Prejudice, and Discrimination
- 05 Altruism and Aggression
- 06 Interpersonal Attraction
- 07 Social Psychology Review and Journal
- 08 Social Psychology Module Exam
- 09 AP Review and Multiple-Choice Practice
- 10 AP Review and FRQ Practice
- 11 Segment Two Discussion-Based Assessment
- 12 Segment Two Exam
